Church is a large village in Hyndburn, Lancashire, England, situated one mile (1.6 km) west of Accrington. The village had a population of 5,186 at the 2011 Census, an increase from 3,990 according to the 2001 census.[a][2][1]

Church
Church is located in the Borough of Hyndburn
Church
Church
Shown within Hyndburn
Church is located in Lancashire
Church
Church
Location within Lancashire
Area0.51 sq mi (1.3 km2[1]
Population5,186 (2011) [1]
• Density10,169/sq mi (3,926/km2)
OS grid referenceSD746288
• London231 miles (372 km)
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townACCRINGTON
Postcode districtBB5
Dialling code01254
PoliceLancashire
FireLancashire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
Websitewww.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/
List of places
UK
England
Lancashire
53°45′18″N 2°23′10″W / 53.755°N 2.386°W / 53.755; -2.386

History and geography

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Church was once a township in the ancient parish of Whalley, covering an area along the eastern side of Hyndburn Brook. Tinker Brook, up to Foxhill Bank, formed the boundary with Oswaldtwistle in the south and Bottom Syke from Dunkenhalgh, the boundary with Clayton-le-Moors to the north.[3][4] This became a civil parish in 1866.[5]

The parish church is the medieval Church of St James. The tower dates to the late medieval era, and was damaged by a fire in 1983. The nave was constructed in 1805.[6]

As planned, the route of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was to continue up the valley of the River Hyndburn to serve Accrington. However, when it was extended from Enfield at the start of the 19th century, the route was altered as the Peel family's textile print works at Church was one of the largest factories in the world and used the river's water during the printing process. Building the embankment for the canal to cross the Hyndburn would have interrupted the water supply. Instead, the canal was built downstream, re-joining the original line at a right angle junction. Most of the land for the deviation had to be purchased from the Petre family of Dunkenhalgh. Although they supported the canal's construction, they requested that the towpath was made on the opposite side of the canal from the house, hoping this would prevent poachers from gaining easy access to their estate.[7] Church is the halfway point on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The main road running through the village is the A679. The local travel links are located less than a mile from the village centre to Church and Oswaldtwistle railway station and 27 miles (43 km) to Blackpool Airport.

Governance

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Prior to 1894 Church had a civil parish, and between 1894 and 1974 the area was administered by an Urban District.[8] It has since become an unparished part of the borough of Hyndburn.

Economy and amenities

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Church is a large village with a wealth of amenities, including a supermarket, bakery, bookmaker, sports centre, a fire station and a car sales garage. Another car sales garage was closed down and demolished in 2015, making way for a restaurant.[9] A small library was also once located in the village, but closed in 2006.

Education

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Church is home to St. Nicholas C.E. Primary School.

People

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  • Edward Ormerod or Ormrod (1834-1894) was born in the village of Church. He was the inventor in 1867 of the patent Ormerod Butterfly Clip, which has been responsible for saving the lives of generations of coal miners.

See also

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References

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Notes

  1. ^ The area in 2001 was listed as 112 hectares (0.43 sq mi), whereas in 2011 it was listed as 132.5 hectares (0.51 sq mi) and included part of Altham civil parish.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Church Built-up area (1119883746)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  2. ^ Lancashire Profile Archived 8 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine lancashire.gov.uk
  3. ^ Lancashire (Map). 1 : 10,560. Ordnance Survey. 1948. Sheet LXIII.
  4. ^ Farrer, William; Brownbill, John, eds. (1911), The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster Vol 6, Victoria County History, - Constable & Co, pp. 399–404, OCLC 832215477
  5. ^ "Church Tn/CP through time". visionofbritain.org.uk. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Church of St. James, Church (1072728)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  7. ^ Clarke, Mike. "The Leeds-Liverpool Canal". cottontown.org. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Church UD through time". visionofbritain.org.uk. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ^ MacPherson, Jon (24 April 2015). "New 'Brickworks' pub and restaurant will create 45 jobs". Accrington Observer. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
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